- Mechanical and membrane style gaming keyboards

- The best keyboards packed with gaming features

Keyboards are a personal preference, gaming keyboards equally so. A good quality gaming keyboard can make all the difference when you're in the heat of battle. The best mechanical keyboards not only offer extra key travel, but a choice of tactile response and actuation force that can be customised according to your needs and preferences. You might prefer a silent keyboard, but there's also something to be said for loud and accurate Cherry MX Blue keys.

Gaming keyboards are often built to last, with rigorous testing to ensure every key can handle the years of use and abuse they're going to be put through. Making the right purchase means you can be sure that even if you're an angry gamer, you're going to have a keyboard that lasts and continues to be accurate for years to come.

These high-end gaming keyboards also include features that allow for the handling of multiple keypresses at once, recording custom macros and user-specific lighting profiles. These features make a big difference to how you work and play with your keyboard.

We've put a range of keyboards to the test to hunt down the very best and help you decide which one is right for you.

Best overall gaming keyboard

Pocket-lint

Corsair K95 Platinum

If you're willing to pay a hefty price for your gaming keyboard and you want only the very best then the Corsair K95 Platinum is likely your best bet. At around £200, this keyboard is likely the most expensive you'll see on the market. It's also one of the most feature-packed keyboards we've seen.

Build quality and design features

Aircraft-grade brushed aluminium frame

Braided USB cable

Spare USB input with cable management features

The Corsair K95 Platinum is built with an obvious focus on quality. It's a high-end gaming keyboard with all the features a gamer could want. The base is solid, weighty and robust - built with an aircraft-grade brushed aluminium frame that's understated yet sublime.

A thick braided USB cable connects to your PC via two USB 2.0 connectors, this is required to power the lighting and functionality settings. Underneath there is a criss-cross of cable management channels allowing you to make tidy use of the extra USB port on the top of the keyboard to plug in other peripherals.

On-the-fly settings and key functionality

Six dedicated macro keys

Lighting, profile and windows key disable button

Multimedia keys and volume wheel

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The Corsair K95 Platinum features a handful of extra keys for quick and easy use whatever you're doing. There are the standard multimedia (play/pause/stop/skip) keys, as well as a volume wheel and mute button for music playback. Six dedicated macro keys also sit on the left side of the keyboard giving access to customised macros when you need them during a gaming session.

At the top, there are three keys for switching between profiles stored on the keyboard memory, turning the windows key on and off and adjusting the brightness of the backlighting.

Keystrokes and comfort

Cherry MX RGB Speed key switches

100 per cent anti-ghosting

Detachable double sided wrist rest

Swappable textured gaming keys

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The Corsair K95 Platinum uses Cherry MX RGB Speed key switches meaning there's an ultra-fast level of activation that's comfortable for everyday typing as it is for gaming. This is one of the quieter keyboards we've tested, though if you're looking for silent then you'll need to look elsewhere.

The highlights for us here are the swappable textured gaming keys. You can pop out the Q, W, E, R, A, S, D and F keys and swap them for textured alternatives included in the box. These keys are also slightly sloped at the edges, which means they're easier to feel and differentiate from other keys on the keyboard. That means, even with the lights off, you can be sure you have your fingers in the right place when gaming. They're comfortable enough to use for everyday typing and a simple, yet welcome addition to the design that's great for avid gamers. The spacebar also has a similar texture to it that ensures your finger won't slip off when you're mashing your way over fences and obstacles in game.

This is an incredibly comfortable keyboard. The large wrist rest includes a double-sided textured surface on a magnetic rubber mat that can be flipped over with ease. If you're not a fan of wrist rests you can remove it too, though we'd highly recommend keeping it as it's very comfortable.

The Corsair K95 Platinum boasts 100 per cent anti-ghosting technology to ensure the keystrokes are always recognised and accurately recorded. Multiple keypresses are capable and we found this keyboard extremely capable both for typing and gaming sessions.

Lighting customisation and syncing

RGB backlighting with 13 settings

Lighting link to sync colours with other Corsair products

Lighting strip across the top of the keyboard

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The Corsair K95 Platinum uses full RGB lighting with individual key settings. There are 13 standard settings including a variety of colour options and animations. These include rainbow, rain, visor, colour shift and many more. The highlight for us is the ability to customise keys individually, so you can set different key colours according to your preference. That means you could, for example, highlight every key on the keyboard red and then set W, A, S, D to white.

Even the lighting strip across the top of the keyboard is split into sections that can be individually lit with specific colours. On the default settings, the lighting is beautiful and entertaining. We love the custom settings, but also enjoyed things like "type lighting" which sends out a ripple of colour as you type or adds a fading colour change to the keys you've pressed as you type.

One problem we did find with lighting is if you have a constant power source through USB – ie. when your computer is off, touching or knocking the keyboard results in it powering on and providing you with a light show or "disco on your desk" as the wife called it. The light button doesn't work to turn that off either.

This keyboard also includes a "Lighting Link" functionality that allows it to sync colours with other Corsair products, including mice and headsets.

Verdict

1/10Pocket-lint

The Corsair K95 Platinum is the cream of the crop when it comes to premium gaming keyboards. There's a lot to love here. The build quality and robust design is superb. Lighting is extremely flexible and the Cherry MX RGB Speed keys are comfortable, accurate and tactile without being overly loud.

Highlights for us include the little features that make the big difference - the swappable textured gaming keys, the comfortable double-sided wrist rest, the easy access macro and multimedia keys.

All these things combined result in our favourite gaming keyboard and our overall recommendation for best gaming keyboard you can buy.

Most stylish gaming keyboard

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Roccat Vulcan 120

It might not be to everyone's taste, but the Roccat Vulcan 120 is, in our mind, one of the most stylish and funky looking gaming keyboards we've seen.

This keyboard features raised keycaps and transparent switch housing which results in a really snazzy look and feel that allows a lot of light bleed both night and day. For RGB lighting fans, the Roccat Vulcan is a real joy, but it's much more than that too.

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Build quality and design features

Anodised aluminium shell

Low-profile keyboard design

Removable ergonomic wrist rest

The Roccat Vulcan 120 features a high-quality design and build that boasts an anodised aluminium shell which looks and feels like brushed steel and gives a great finish. It features a low profile design meaning it sits low on the desk, yet stands out immediately thanks to the raised keys.

A removable wrist rest and flip-up feet allow you to adjust the comfort to your own preference too.

A satisfyingly tactile volume wheel juts out on the top right allowing you to easily adjust sound levels on-the-fly. Media keys and other function keys are built right into the F keys too, so there is no excess of extra button here - meaning the design is easy to adjust to for anyone.

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Keystrokes and comfort

ROCCAT-developed Titan Switches

Ultra-light keycap design

1.8mm actuation, 3.6mm key travel

1000Hz polling

The Roccat Vulcan 120 makes use of the company's Titan key switches with ultra-light keycaps that are 50 per cent lighter than standard caps. They're also designed to be easier to maintain with classic spacing of traditional keyboards, but with a shorter height which allows for easier cleaning and a fantastic look and feel.

They also pop off with a little convincing should you need to get underneath for cleaning, but the raised design means it's much easier to get dirt and dust off this keyboard with ease. Compressed air and a microfibre cloth make light work of the cleaning, but even a simple upending is enough to remove most contaminants.

We're happy to report the keys are comfortable, accurate and satisfying whatever you're doing. This is not a quiet keyboard, but it is a loud, proud and high-quality mechanical keyboard.

We found this keyboard to be a joy to use for day-to-day typing, but also powerful and effective during a good gaming session. The travel and actuation levels are satisfying, even for the heavy-handed gamers among us.

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On-the-fly settings and key functionality

ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+] technology

Compatible with Roccat Swarm

All keys are remappable with integrated macro and settings memory

The Roccat Vulcan 120 is fully customisable too. It's designed to work with the Roccat Swarm software which gives users access to a multitude of settings and customisation options.

Each and every key on the keyboard is programmable from here. This eliminates the need for separate macro keys, but also means you can tweak the keyboard until your heart is content.

From here you can also make use of the Easy-Shift functionality. This is a brilliant option that allows you to choose any key on the keyboard and assign an alternate keypress, macro or other setting to it.

We assigned Easy-Shift to the capslock key (because who's that angry anyway?) and then set up a variety of interesting settings. Simple things like Easy-Shift + 1 opening task manager to kill a hanging program or to mute your microphone, open a specific folder, launch a web browser. The possibilities seem to be endless. This is a simple enough function but it makes the keyboard incredibly flexible and highly appealing.

To tweak things further, there are also four profile settings built into the keyboard that you can switch between using the F1 to F4 keys. This allows you to set up different profiles and settings for different games and different situations. If you have a preference for use in Windows then a completely different setup for playing games, then that's easy to program too.

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Lighting customisation

RGB illumination with 16.8 million colours

Programmable on a key-by-key basis

Multiple lighting options

RGB lighting is obviously a big part of this keyboard's design. It's big, bold and bright. The lighting options are also highly customisable. You can choose from a number of key illumination options in the Swarm software including:

AIMO intelligent lighting - a mode that reacts organically to the way you use the keyboard and results in fluid colour movements and changes

Wave - a simple mode that washes colours across the keyboard in a wave-like pattern

Snake - like the old Nokia game, this uses the lights to trace a colourful snake across your keyboard as you work or play

Fully lit - sets the keyboard to a specific colour theme in a gradient style where it's bright at one end and dark at the other (red into orange for example)

Heartbeat - a funky pulsing light from either end of the keyboard in turn

Breathing - similar to heartbeat except giving the impression of breathing through the medium of light

Fade FX - this makes each key light up as you type, then fade out

Ripple FX - Ripple is similar to fade, except a ripple of colour disperses across the keyboard with each keypress

Custom - Here you can program individual keys or zones on the keyboard (WASD, arrow keys, numpad, etc) with different colours

Many of these custom lighting options can also be tweaked in both the speed they react and the brightness too.

We also found with a press of the FX button, you can use the volume wheel to change settings too. It can be used to tweak brightness or on certain modes to move colours around to different parts of the keyboard.

1/12Pocket-lint

Verdict

The Roccat Vulcan 120 is a hidden gem of a keyboard that should not be overlooked. It features a much better build quality than other Roccat keyboards we've tested and it's packed full of interesting features that make it a lot of fun to play with.

We really like the quirky low-profile, raised keycap design and the way the RGB lighting works because of this.

Other highlights almost certainly include the flexibility of the keyboard thanks to the Roccat Swarm software. Being able to program each and every key on the keyboard not only with different settings and macros but also with Easy-Shift controls makes this keyboard highly customisable.

The Roccat Vulcan 120 certainly stands out from the crowd and is worth the investment.

Best feature-packed RGB keyboard

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Asus ROG Claymore

High-quality metal frame

Cable management features

Colour/light syncing with other Asus peripherals

Detachable numpad

Repeat acceleration keypress function

When it comes to gaming keyboards, some manufacturers go all out and stuff their keyboards with all the features you could need. Asus has done this with the ROG Claymore. With an RRP of £200, it's one of the most expensive mechanical keyboards on our list, but it's also one of the most feature-rich and flexible. Which is why it makes it high on our list of best gaming keyboards to buy - if you can stomach the price tag.

Build quality and design features

Pocket-lint

Out of all the keyboards we've tested, the first thing that stands out about the Asus ROG Claymore is the build quality. Asus really hasn't scrimped on the design here. Its high-quality metallic frame makes it immediately feel superior to plastic counterparts. This is backed up by a thick braided cable that offers less resistance to traditional rubberised cables. For the neat freaks among us, the addition of the cable management in the form of "routing grooves" on the base of the keyboard is a welcome feature too.

The Asus ROG Claymore includes a detachable numpad that is capable of attaching to both ends of the keyboard or just being left aside if you don't want to use it. This is great if you have to travel with the keyboard, to take it a LAN event, for example. It's also useful if you're left handed or prefer to game with the numpad. This setup gives a lot of flexibility that not everyone will need, but that certainly stands out in a crowded market of gaming keyboards.

On-the-fly settings and key functionality

Multimedia keys

Repeat acceleration mode

On-the-fly macro recording

Overclocking keys compatible with Asus motherboards

1/4Pocket-lint

The Asus ROG Claymore boasts a number of on-the-fly settings that allow you to do a variety of things with ease. This includes all the usual features you'd expect from an RGB backlit keyboard as well as a range of custom settings including overclocking your CPU and memory, recording macros, controlling fan speed and much more.

During setup, it is also possible to create customisation settings for specific keys to be used during "gaming mode" – for example, changing what the Windows Key does or ALT+Tab.

There are function and media keys for adjusting volume and playing/skipping/pausing music easily and the wheel on the numpad is used to quickly and easily adjust media volume with a roll.

Another highlight for gamers, especially those who enjoy a good RPG, is the "repeat acceleration" - this feature is the rate at which a letter repeats itself when you hold down a key. A faster rate is useful in a game where you're constantly looting for new gear and mashing F or E to pick up items - setting a higher repeat rate means you can just hold the button and save keystrokes. This setting is easily adjustable on the fly and can be turned off for typing.

Keystrokes and comfort

Cherry MX RGB switches

100-per cent anti-ghosting tech

50 million keystroke guarantee

Gamers know that keystrokes are essential to winning and when it comes to mechanical keyboards, there are a lot of important features that make a difference.

The Asus ROG Claymore features Cherry MX RGB switches, with 100 per cent anti-ghosting technology. This means keystrokes are accurate and all your important presses are tracked as they should be, even if you're mashing a multitude of keys at once.

It's flexible too - with a choice of red, blue, brown and black keys allowing you to customise comfort and response according to your personal preference. We found this keyboard to perhaps be the loudest out of all those we tested, which will prove popular for most avid-mechanical keyboard fans, but could risk verging on being obnoxiously loud for everyday typing.

We found the tracking to be excellent during our playtime and it's clear that the ROG Claymore is built with a strong focus on accuracy, durability and usability. Asus also claims these keys are capable of handling 50 million keystrokes too, so this one is built to last.

Lighting customisation and syncing

As you'd expect from a high-end gaming keyboard, this one is packed with various settings within the software for customising its lighting. You can adjust backlighting for specific keys (e.g. W, A, S, D) or the whole keyboard. There's also a mass of lighting effects that include static, breathing, colour cycle, wave, ripple, reactive, starry night, quicksand and custom modes that can be adjusted according to your taste.

Within the software, you can create multiple profiles, allowing you to have specific lighting for different games or for between standard use and gaming use. If you're an Asus fan, there is also an Aura setting which allows you to match the glow and colours of the keyboard with ROG mice and vice versa.

Function keys combined with the up and down, left and right arrows change lighting between the settings on-the-fly without the need to load up the software. Which is a nice touch and makes for pleasant day-to-day use.

Verdict

1/8Pocket-lint

The Asus ROG Claymore is an excellent choice if you're looking for a high-end gaming keyboard. It might be a tad expensive for some, but you are getting what you pay for here. The quality of the design and build here is undeniable.

We like the inclusion of macro keys without actually having physical keys on the keyboard that might risk confusing the layout you're used to with an everyday QWERTY keyboard.

That said, we do think the Asus ROG Claymore is lacking a few areas. The keys are replaceable, but we prefer the textured W, A, S, D keys available on other keyboards of a similar price (Corsair K95 Platinum being one of them).

The lack of wrist rest maybe be a negative for some - we liked seeing this added comfort on some of the other keyboards we've seen.

The metal frame is brilliantly designed and the funky textured surface gives this keyboard a very distinctive look. We did find it to be a bit of a dust magnet though.

Best silent gaming keyboard

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Fnatic Rush mechanical keyboard

Cherry Red MX Silent keys

Rubberised detachable wrist rest

If you're after a mechanical keyboard for the accuracy and quality that comes with this design, but are put off by the loud keystrokes commonly associated with them, then a "silent" mechanical keyboard might be the best option.

The Fnatic Rush mechanical keyboard uses Cherry Red MX Silent keys - which means keystrokes are comfortable, quiet and accurate too. The "silent" might be misleading here though, as there is still some noise, but during testing we found these keys to be a lot quieter than the other mechanical keyboards we've tested.

Build quality and design features

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The Fnatic Rush has an interesting keyboard design that stands out from the crowd, being simplistic yet comfortable and practical. The keys and surface of the keyboard have a rubberised feel to them which is as unusual as it is comfortable. The detachable rubber coated wrist rest is a welcome addition that adds a comfort to everyday use.

The design of this one isn't loud and proud like other keyboards - there are no unnecessary extra buttons or bells and whistles, but Fnatic has proven this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

The design of the Fnatic Rush keyboard also includes two additional USB ports on the back for convenient plug and play with other devices - to charge a phone, for example.

Keystrokes and comfort

Rubberised surface and wrist rest

Multimedia buttons

Five profile settings with up to 10 macros at 26 keystrokes per macro

50 million strokes guaranteed

Despite the apparent simplistic design, the Fnatic Rush is actually very capable. This one includes the ability to record keystrokes into macros with up to 26 characters per recording. These can be set up in five profile settings. Each can hold up to 10 macros and these macros can be assigned to any key on the keyboard making it very flexible and easily customisable.

There are function keys too that include multimedia buttons for volume, skip, play/pause. These buttons do require two key presses though - FN + F1-F6 – unlike other keyboards which have separate and easy to use buttons.

The Fnatic Rush is built for quality, it's designed for eSports and therefore is made to be robust enough to handle transport to tournaments as well as regular use and abuse. Keys are apparently guaranteed for 50 million strokes, though how you'd prove you'd done less we're not sure. It does, though, Fnatic's confidence in the product and the trust you can put into your purchase.

Lighting customisation

Red backlit keys

On/off and pulsing modes

The Fnatic Rush is not an RGB keyboard but it is backlit with a nice red hue. The settings here are pretty basic as you can only have three settings for the lighting - on, off or pulsing. If colourful lighting is what you're after from your gaming keyboard, this might put you off. We found the lighting to be pleasant and easy enough to use though.

Verdict

1/6Pocket-lint

The Fnatic Rush is a surprisingly capable and enjoyable keyboard to use, both during gaming sessions and for everyday use. At around £70, it's well worth considering if you want the accuracy of a mechanical keyboard but with quiet keys and a slightly more understated design that wouldn't look out of place on an office desk.

The rubberised surface, large wrist rest and comfortable keystrokes make this keyboard a joy to work with. We'd like to see textured W, A, S, D keys and perhaps some separate media keys to cut down on keypresses but all in all it's an impressive piece of kit.

Best gaming keyboard for everyday typing

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Kingston HyperX Alloy Elite

Mechanical gaming keyboards are great for gaming, but often lacking in flexibility making them a less pleasurable experience for day-to-day use. An overabundance of extra keys, quirky designs or a harsh key noise can be off-putting. Others' designs, though brilliant to look at, are often lacking in comfort which results in painful daily use.

Kingston's HyperX Alloy Elite ticks all the boxes to deliver comfort and usability across gaming and typing, resulting in a fantastic keyboard, whatever you're doing.

Build quality and design features

Soft-touch keys

Heavy-duty robust steel design

Simplistic design that requires no extra software

The HyperX Alloy Elite boasts a heavy-duty, durable and heavy-weight design using a solid steel frame. We found the keyboard didn't move about on the desk and had an obvious robust design to it that could withstand hours of use and abuse. The top of the keyboard also includes an extra USB 2.0 pass-through input for peripherals (such as a mouse).

A thick braided cable allows for plugging into your gaming machine and ensures there's no friction or resistance issues with your desk.

On-the-fly settings and key functionality

Illumination adjustment, gaming mode and brightness buttons

Dedicated multimedia keys and volume wheel

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Unlike other gaming keyboards we've tested, the HyperX Alloy Elite doesn't use software, so you don't need to worry about downloading extra things to your computer or spend time setting up profiles. This speaks to the simple design of the keyboard.

The HyperX Alloy Elite includes dedicated multimedia keys and a volume wheel. It also includes keys for illumination switching, game mode and a brightness button. There are no macro keys here, so if this is something you need from this gaming keyboard then this one isn't for you. We found the extra keys perfectly sufficient for everyday use. Whether posting on social media, playing games or writing documents, the HyperX Alloy Elite does it all with ease.

Keystrokes and comfort

Swappable textured keys for W,A,S,D and 1,2,3,4

Available with Cherry MX Blue, Brown, or Red key switches

Large removable wrist rest with textured surface

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The HyperX Alloy Elite is a mechanical keyboard with soft-touch keys. It's available with Cherry MX Blue, Brown or Red key switches, so you can choose the right setup for your needs. We tested this keyboard with Cherry MX Red switches and found key presses to be quieter than other mechanical keyboards we'd tested. These switches are also noticeably smooth and comfortable for everyday typing.

We found this one to be fantastic to use for everyday typing – smooth, comfortable and easy to use without being obnoxious in terms of loud key presses.

Included in the box are titanium-coloured textured keycaps for the W,A,S,D and the 1,2,3,4 keys. There's a slight texture and slant to the W,A,S,D keys which make them easy to identify in the heat of gaming battles.

We also loved the large detachable wrist rest with a soft-touch coating, which proved superbly comfortable during every day use and helps to alleviate wrist fatigue during long gaming sessions too.

We found the HyperX Alloy Elite to be one of the more comfortable keyboards to use for a variety of tasks and loved the small additions to the design that made a big difference. Another simple addition, the gaming mode button – disables the pesky Windows key when playing games, which is a handy thing to have indeed.

Lighting customisation and syncing

The HyperX Alloy Elite is not all-singing, all-dancing in terms of lighting. This is an illuminated keyboard, but only with red backlighting. Without extra software, it's easy to assume that the HyperX Alloy Elite isn't as capable as other keyboards on this list, but it works surprisingly well.

Illumination switching is done via a single key on the top left of the keyboard. You can use that button to switch between a handful of backlight modes including Solid, Breathing, Trigger, Explosion, Wave and custom.

The W,A,S,D keys are lit by default on custom, but you can choose which keys to light in this mode by pressing and holding brightness and game mode key together, then simply pressing the buttons you want to highlight and press brightness and game mode keys again when you're done. This allows you to customise the lighting of specific keys to meet your requirements without having to load up any additional software.

Verdict

1/7Pocket-lint

The HyperX Alloy Elite is fantastic for its £120 coverprice. It includes customisation options to make it your very own with a choice of switches, textured W,A,S,D keys and various illumination settings. Most appealing to us though was the quality and comfort of the design that was unmatched by most of the others we tried, especially at this price point. Although it doesn't have all the features and bells and whistles of some of the other keyboards on this list, the HyperX Alloy Elite is still our best choice for everyday typing and comfort. What it lacks in macro keys and RGB lighting it more than makes up for with comfortable keystrokes, the fatigue relieving wrist rest and a simplistic design.

Best splashproof keyboard for clumsy gamers

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Corsair K68 gaming keyboard

Cherry MX key switches

100 per cent Anti-Ghosting

If you're the sort of gamer that enjoys snacking and drinking while you play, then you've no doubt worried about what might happen if you knocked your drink over your expensive gaming keyboard. Who wants to spend money on a replacement keyboard, with cash that would be better spent on building your Steam collection.

Along comes the answer to all your woes in the form of an IP32-rated gaming keyboard that's built to withstand spills and messy eating disasters.

Build quality and design features

IP32 dust and spill resistance

Ultra-durable design

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The concept of the Corsair K68 is simple enough. On the outside, it's your standard mechanical gaming keyboard with a pretty appealing design. It's not the most elegant or high-end design on our list, but it's cleanly built and packed full of features nonetheless. The Corsair K68 is very much built on a plastic foundation, but that doesn't mean it isn't a solidly designed keyboard.

Underneath, is where this keyboard really shines. Each keyswitch is individually protected by a raised rubberised housing that keeps fluids out. Though you couldn't immerse the keyboard in water, it's clear this housing would shield the internal workings from spills and splashes.

If you're wondering whether this design compromises the day-to-day use of the keyboard, we're happy to report it doesn't. In fact, unless you remove the keycaps to have a look you wouldn't even notice the difference.

On-the-fly settings and key functionality

Multimedia keys

Backlighting brightness key

Windows key disable button

The Corsair K68 doesn't have some of the extra macro buttons or keys of other keyboards, but it does include multimedia keys for controlling music playback, volume adjustment and more on-the-fly.

This keyboard is also compatible with Corsair's iCUE software allowing you to tweak and program it to your own personal preference. So although there aren't any dedicated macro keys, you are able to program and record macros to any key on the keyboard and set up specific profiles to switch between too.

There's a brightness button for adjusting lighting easily and a button for disabling the windows key so you don't accidentally mash it while gaming and ruin your fun.

Keystrokes and comfort

Detachable wrist rest with soft-touch finish

Comfortable keypress design

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The Corsair K68 offers a surprisingly comfortable and joyful experience both in gaming and during everyday use. There's no compromise on comfort or quality here and the IP32 housing makes no noticeable difference to the response of the keys.

We found the keypresses on this keyboard to be surprisingly understated while still maintaining that brilliant response you can only expect from a mechanical keyboard. The Cherry MX keyswitches are brilliantly accurate, comfortable and competent.

The K68 also comes with a detachable wrist rest with a textured "soft-touch" finish. Though this wrist rest is plastic and not quite as fancy as others on this list, it is also surprisingly comfortable. The end result is a well-made keyboard, that's a thrill to use, whatever you're doing.

Lighting customisation and syncing

Dynamic RGB backlighting

Compatible with CORSAIR iCUE software

The K68 keyboard's compatibility with Corsair's iCUE software means you have access to a wide variety of lighting settings and customisation options.

This lighting customisation includes access to pre-defined lighting modes with everything from timed, patterned lighting to lighting that responds to your typing. Custom lighting is also programmable, so you can even tweak the colours of individual keys. If you own multiple Corsair peripherals then you can use "instant lighting" and "lighting link" options to set a single colour across all devices or synchronise lighting to your liking.

Brightness levels can be adjusted easily on the keyboard, turned off completely or tweaked within the software. We're happy to report the splashproof housing doesn't compromise the lighting effects either. This keyboard lights up nicely without being overpowering.

Verdict

1/6Pocket-lint

The Corsair K68 is a superb keyboard that's likely more affordable than most other mechanical keyboards you've considered while being backed by a splash-proofing that'll keep you feeling less on edge while you eat, drink and game.

This keyboard is perfect for a boozy gaming session or just for clumsy gamers who are prone to knocking over drinks or making a mess while they game. With no compromise on design quality, the K68 is a force to be reckoned with and an absolute joy to use.

If your budget can't quite stretch to the full RGB version or you're not bothered about full-lighting options, there's also a variant of the K68 available with just red backlighting for less money.

Best membrane style gaming keyboard

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Roccat Horde AIMO

Comfortable and quiet key design

Feature-rich gaming keyboard

The majority of gamers are looking for a mechanical keyboard when shopping for new gaming gear, but not everyone is a fan of the mechanical design. You might be one of those people who prefer the quiet and comfort of a membrane keyboard but are disappointed with the lack of available options out there. Membrane keyboards often don't stand up to their mechanical competitors in terms of style, features, flexibility and functionality.

If this sounds like a problem you've faced, then there's good news in the form of the Roccat Horde AIMO - a new keyboard from Roccat with a membrane style design in a world dominated by mechanical keyboards. This gaming keyboard presents an interesting alternative if you're looking for something that's feature-rich and works as well for everyday typing as it does for gaming.

Build quality and design features

Large detachable wrist rest

1.8m braided USB cable

The Roccat Horde AIMO is a more affordable keyboard than a lot of the other devices on this list. The result is a keyboard that's mostly plastic and might look cheap and cheerful at first glance but is actually well-built with a clear focus on quality. This keyboard has a large and comfortable wrist rest that's also detachable and so can be adjusted to your needs. Like the rest of the keyboard, it's plastic but fits well on the wrist and ensures a good level of comfort whatever you're doing.

There's a long braided USB cable and that highlights the quality of the design too. Just because this isn't a mechanical keyboard doesn't mean it should be dismissed as cheap and lesser quality. The keys have a comfortable actuation and an impressive feedback that surprised us during use, even when compared with high-end mechanical keyboards.

On-the-fly settings and key functionality

Tuning wheel and easy-access multimedia keys

Customisable macros and key functions

Multiple profile memory

Easy shift key switching

1/3

As you'd expect from a gaming keyboard, the Roccat Horde AIMO is packed with features and key functionality. The left side of the keyboard includes five low-profile macro keys that can be easily programmed to your personal liking within the Roccat Swarm software. The top right is dominated by easy-access multimedia and function keys. These allow you to do the usual thing like playing, pausing, skipping and rewinding music as well as adjusting volume, but also allow for easy tweaking of lighting, brightness, colours and more.

The tuning wheel allows for quick and easy adjustment of the settings on-the-fly too. As default, it controls media volume but with a click of the various other function buttons, it changes between settings allowing you to adjust brightness, colour, dpi settings and more. We particularly liked that you can use it to switch between windows in Windows 10 too.

One of the highlights of this keyboard is the inclusion of Roccat's Easy-Shift functionality. We've seen this in the Roccat Vulcan 120 and it's a sheer joy - being able to reprogram any key on the keyboard in a multitude of ways to change the key mode on-the-fly.

If you so wish, you can also remap the primary function of individual keys to another keypress or setting too. As a number of programmable profiles are available within the software, this means you can theoretically program different settings for different occasions - one layout for gaming and another for writing and surfing. We can also imagine hilarious antics with reprogramming keys to give completely the wrong input and confusing anyone else who might use the keyboard while you're away from it.

Keystrokes and comfort

"Membranical" key design

Quick-fire low-profile macro keys

Anti-ghosting technology

The Roccat Horde AIMO is designed to fit in a specific category of keyboards somewhere between traditional keyboards and mechanical gaming keyboards. To this end it has been designed with so-called "Membranical" key technology, which is superior to classic membrane style keyboards in terms of gaming capabilities, but quieter and more comfortable than a mechanical keyboard for everyday use.

This is an interesting positioning for any gaming keyboard, but it works surprisingly well. It's an unusually comfortable and accurate keyboard that works incredibly well for gaming and day-to-day typing tasks. It's quiet and easy to use, much like the Fnatic Rush, but with more of a focus on membrane style and RGB illumination.

The "Membranical" keys offer a midway travel actuation point which results in a much more precise and responsive keystroke compared to classic keyboards. The anti-ghosting technology ensures that all keypresses are registered and you're never left hopelessly mashing keys and wondering why they aren't working. There's nothing worse than losing a game because the keyboard you're using is letting you down and not registering your frantic inputs.

We were surprised with how well this keyboard worked and how comfortable it is to use. We're big fans of mechanical keyboards, but this membrane styled device is a brilliant alternative if you're looking for something that's quieter but with a variety of functionality and impressive accuracy at the same time.

Lighting customisation

Like all good gaming keyboards, the Roccat Horde AIMO features RGB lighting that can be customised to your personal preference. Our initial thoughts when we first started using the keyboard was the lighting is much dimmer than the mechanical keyboards we've seen. During the daylight hours, the colours of the keys is barely visible even on full brightness. This is down to the design of the keyboard though.

This keyboard is built with an "island layout" design where the keys are precisely spaced and distinctly separated. The result is, unlike with mechanical keyboards, the edges and underside of the keys are recessed in the keyboard itself. This means there is no light-bleeding from the edges or underneath of the keys and the lighting is only visible through the laser-cutouts of the lettering on top of them.

At night, this lighting design is perhaps easier on the eye than the sometimes overpoweringly bright lighting you'll see on mechanical alternatives. There's no danger of a disco light show on your desk distracting from your gaming session, but if bright colours are important to you then this might not be the keyboard for you.

The lighting system on the Roccat Horde AIMO is customisable within the Swarm software and allows for switching between a variety of lighting modes including colour wave, snake, fully lit, heartbeat, breathing and AIMO intelligent. The last of these synchronises with other Roccat peripherals so you can have the joy of harmonised lighting across your keyboard, mouse and headset if that's your sort of thing.

Otherwise, the lighting modes offer some variety, but certainly not as much customisation as the mechanical keyboards on this list. For custom settings, for example, you can choose the main keys, navigation keys or numpad keys but you cannot select individual keys to highlight them in specific colours. Still, it's nice to see flexible and customisable RGB lighting on relatively cheap and non-mechanical gaming keyboard.

Verdict

1/3Pocket-lint

The Roccat Horde AIMO represents an interesting choice if you're looking for a new gaming keyboard. It's cheaper than many of the other options on this list, especially the high-end mechanical keyboards, but it doesn't scrimp on quality or features as a result.

If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard with impressive RGB lighting options then this is not the keyboard for you. But if you're happy with a subtler lighting style and an accurate keypress from a quiet and comfortable membrane style instead, then this is a brilliant option. At a mere £80/$89 the Roccat Horde AIMO is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a cracking gaming keyboard at an accessible price.

Best keyboard for sofa gaming

Roccat Sova

Sometimes a bit of comfortable sofa based PC gaming is just what the doctor ordered. There's nothing quite like slouching on a couch with your favourite game in front of a large TV.

Of course, every PC gamer worth their salt knows that a keyboard and mouse setup is best for accurate gaming - especially in FPS games. Playing with a standard keyboard and mouse on a sofa is a nightmare. Unless you manage some clever trickery with a collection of cushions and a chopping board, it can be a messy, haphazard and uncomfortable affair. That's where lapboards come in.

Build quality and design features

4-metre USB cable

Customisable mouse and wrist surfaces

Built-in USB 2.0 passthrough

Removable padding

The Roccat Sova is a larger-than-usual keyboard built with comfort and practicality in mind. This is a brilliant gaming lapboard which allows you to take the precision of keyboard and mouse play into the living room. With a large surface for your mouse and a compact keyboard layout designed to fit nicely on your lap, it appears as the ultimate middleground.

Pocket-lint

Highlights to this keyboard include four large padded feet that sit underneath the board and fit nicely onto your lap while you play. We found this to be remarkably comfortable during gaming sessions, wherever we were sitting. It also has four-metre long breakaway USB cable, which we found was long enough to stretch across the living room with ease. There's no need to rearrange the room in order to play games with this keyboard.

With two USB passthrough ports also present, you have the options to plug other devices in from afar too. Attach your mouse and even a gaming headset to the keyboard and you've got all your gaming needs catered to in one swoop. An included mouse bungee, docking rail and cable channeling mean you can keep everything neat and tidy too.

Pocket-lint

Roccat claims this keyboard features an indestructible build quality and it certainly seemed robust enough to us during testing. The ergonomic design of this keyboard also makes it comfortable to use for a long gaming session too.

On-the-fly settings and key functionality

Roccat SWARM compatible

Multimedia and hotkeys included

Easy-Shift[+] customisation options

Like the Roccat Horde AIMO, the Roccat Sova is compatible with the Roccat SWARM app. Which means it's also programmable and customisable in various ways. You can edit keys and create macros within the software as well as making use of the Easy-Shift tech.

If that's not enough, you can also pair it with your smartphone and change settings that way.

Keystrokes and comfort

Membrane keys

Anti-ghosting optimised

1000hz polling

The Roccat Sova features the same membrane style design we've seen from other Roccat keyboards. This makes it comfortable and quiet to use - ideal for living room play where other people might be relaxing and not wanting to hear the click and clack of a mechanical keyboard.

Its design does necessitate the keyboard layout being a little more compact than you're used to though. Some small changes will require a little bit of adjustment from the norm - for example, there's no gap between the F-keys or the directional arrow keys. A lack of numpad may also be taxing for some.

That said, we found this keyboard to be surprisingly comfortable and easy to use once you've got the hang of it. Adjusting to the new layout doesn't take long at all.

One point of note is we found the mousepad to be bit scratchy and on the noisy side. If you like a silky smooth gaming surface, then this might not be the perfect solution. However, both the wrist rest area and mouse pad are removable and can be replaced with custom-made 3D printed versions if you feel the need. We did find the surfaces comfortable and accurate enough for sofa gaming though.

Lighting customisation and syncing

The Roccat Sova features classic Roccat blue backlighting adjustable in six different brightness levels. Beyond that, there's not a great deal of customisation, but it's not really needed anyway. This is a fairly subtle keyboard, nonsense-free and just designed to perform well.

It does have an onboard memory that allows you to program and sync it to your liking though.

1/8Pocket-lint

Verdict

The Roccat Sova is a brilliant keyboard for those looking for something comfortable to use in their living room. It's fairly understated compared with other keyboards on this list, but it doesn't need all the bells and whistles as it's designed to do one task and it does that well. We were surprised just how comfortable and easy to use this lapboard is.

The long USB cable, padded underside cushioning and comfortable membrane keys make this keyboard a joy to use in living room based gaming sessions. Well worth a considering if that's your style.

Other keyboards to consider

SteelSeries Apex M750

Though not quite as capable or feature rich as some of the other gaming keyboards on this list, the SteelSeries Apex M750 is worth considering if lighting is your thing.

The software included with this SteelSeries keyboard allows for integration with a range of apps which make lighting far more flexible and interesting than other keyboards. We loved that you could hook it up to Discord and see specific buttons light up to tell you who was talking, for example.

The Audiovisualizer engine renders the audio spectrum when listening to music, such as through Spotify, or playing games. Fully customisable with colours for foregrounds, background and the wave, it's very neat and colourful according to your needs and preferences and the sounds playing.

Meanwhile, ImageSync allows you to upload gif files to the keyboard and get them played out as illuminations. In the above image, we'd set Pacman as our gif and could see him actively chomping down his food.

We also loved the ease of lighting customisation that allows you to colour a group of keys by highlighting them with your mouse – nice and easy to use if you want to paint W, A, S, D a single colour and the rest another.

It's a highly flexible keyboard, but lacks in other areas that make the rest of the keyboards on this list stand out

Asus ROG Strix Flare

This is certainly an interesting mechanical keyboard to consider as an alternative. The Asus ROG Strix Flare includes some pretty cool RGB underlighting at the sides, as well as a swathe of the usual tricks you'd expect from a mechanical gaming keyboard.

Its design includes Cherry MX RGB switches with a choice of red, brown, blue or black switches depending on your preference. We tested this keyboard with the red switches and found it incredibly comfortable for everyday typing use while also being powerful for a good gaming session.

This keyboard also includes dedicated media keys, a rubberised, smooth scroll volume wheel and custom recordable macros. It's not packed with loads of unnecessary extra keys either, so is easy to use for anyone.

The design also includes a funky dual textured pattern where half the keyboard and wrist rest includes a brushed-pattern look and feel to it.

There are also customisation options here, as the ROG logo badge on the top of the keyboard is removable and replaceable with a blank one included in the box. Allowing you to make the design your own with some stickers or etching that will be illuminated while you play.

The Asus ROG Strix Flare is also compatible with Asus ROG Armoury software, giving you access to a mass of lighting customisation options that include Aura Sync across multiple Asus gaming peripherals.

Although not the best keyboard we've tried, it's certainly stylish, well designed and an affordable mechanical keyboard that Asus fans will love.

Corsair Doubleshot Keycaps

As an alternative to buying a brand new keyboard, you could choose to opt for a simple upgrade to your current keyboard. For example, Corsair keyboard owners have the option of purchasing the company's Doubleshot PBT keycaps.

These keys are thick, rugged and durable, meaning they can stand up to more wear and tear than your average keyboard keycaps and will last longer too. They're still backlight compatible, so illuminated keys continue to look great, while providing a fantastically simple upgrade to your keyboard.

We found these also made a good excuse to give our favourite keyboard a thorough clean and the results are pretty awesome. They're available to buy in black or white - though we think the white looks especially awesome, as long as you don't eat while you game.